Maolíosa McHugh


Maolíosa McHugh MLA is a Sinn Féin politician from County Tyrone, Northern Ireland who has served as Member of the Legislative Assembly for the West Tyrone constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly since 28 May 2019. Previously, he was a local councillor and Mayor of Derry and Strabane.

Early life

McHugh was born in Mournebeg, a rural area west of Castlederg, County Tyrone. He worked as a lecturer in the North West Regional College for almost 33 years.

History

McHugh first elected to Strabane District Council in 2011; he continued as member of Derry City and Strabane District Council when they were merged, and he served as Mayor of Derry and Strabane in 2017–18. During his term, he was criticised for refusing to meet Prince Charles or send a council representative to a Buckingham Palace garden party. He lost his seat in the 2019 local election.
McHugh was coopted onto the Northern Ireland Assembly in May 2019. However, he has yet to actually take his seat, as the Assembly is collapsed. Órfhlaith Begley MP described McHugh as "A true republican with a wealth of knowledge and experience."